Short Takes

[Microwave0ven]

Well, I've certainly been reading in here quite a bit.. i guess i should try my own first contribution..

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Looking very out of place, a slim young man with dirty blonde hair walked into the bar. It was more of an upper-class bar, located in the richer area of town. He sat down at an empty table after ordering a drink to look at his surroundings. He took a sip of the brandy, savouring the taste. Rich red carpet, chandelier lighting, gold-plated decorations on the wall. Definitely more like a five-star hotel than anything else. Where better to play his game? He had nothing to lose already. Buried in his own thoughts, he was unaware of the purple eyes watching him from across the room.

The woman was tall and was dressed in a sharp-looking business suit. She luxuriated in one of the back booths with a glass of red wine. Her long legs were encased in shiny black leather boots that gleamed. She was dressed in a white dress shirt with a black suit jacket and a matching black skirt. The young man, dressed in a faded blue t-shirt and equally faded and worn black jeans looked tired and wrung out. He looked to be in his late teens or ealy twenties, but had the look of experience in his eyes. The woman allowed herself a small smile when he stood and approached the gambling tables. She signalled and from behind her, a man approached.

"Yes Ms. Kawdins? What would be your pleasure this evening?" the attendant asked respectfully with a slight bow and smile. He waited attentively, notepad in hand, for her response.

She inclined her head towards him, not taking her eyes off her target. "That one." she declared, "I want him financially ruined beyond repair before I join the game. The signal will be the dealer pulling on his ear twice."

The attendant nodded, "It will be done." He hurried off to the dealer, taking him aside before the game started and whispering the instructions into his ear. Ms Kawdins watched from her seat and saw the dealer nodding his understanding.

The young man didn't notice much, just that he kept losing. He fiercely forced himself to smile. This is what you wanted, isn't it? Lose everything. Hit rock bottom. He bared his teeth at the dealer and nodded. "Another round." The players around him hissed and muttered complaints about not trusting that he had the money. A few players collected their winnings and dropped out, and a new player stepped in. A woman.

Ms Kawdin joined the game at the dealer's signal. Everyone settled, and they began to play. She started off the betting with $5000. Many of the other players, businessmen who were playing just for fun and relaxation snorted and folded. As she'd hoped, the young man stubbornly stayed in the game. When it was her turn again, she raised her bet to $25000. Only two other players stayed in the game aside from the young man

She won the round with no problem, and with a light smile, stood, saying "I'll collect my winnings now then. I have to go for the night." One by one, the players reached deep into their wallets and handed the cash into her outstretched, waiting hand.

When she came around to the young man, he shrugged helplessly. He looked into her face then dropped his gaze. "Sorry, I don't got it now."

Ms Kawdin glared, her piercing purple gaze burning through him. She motioned and two burly security guards arrived at her side in tandem. "Take him to the back room." she snapped. One of the behemoths grabbed the boy's arm, twisting it behind him while the other guard clapped a cloroformed cloth over the struggling boy's mouth and nose. They dragged his inert body away as Ms Kawdin handed each of the players $500 before following them to the back room.